Ocala's mayor vetoes change to under-21 law

Published: Saturday, January 13, 2007 at 6:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Saturday, January 13, 2007 at 12:00 a.m.

OCALA - Ocala Mayor Randy Ewers has again vetoed a City Council decision involving the city ordinance barring customers under age 21 from clubs and lounges serving liquor.
Friday, Ewers vetoed a Jan. 2 decision that tightened some exemptions to the law but also prohibited "dual use" businesses that could allow customers under age 21 while operating businesses like pool halls or restaurants during certain hours before going 21 and older to become dance clubs at night. Instead, if a business ever met the city's definition of nightclub, it had to be 21 and older during all hours of operation.
"I just didn't think it was fair to businesses that were entrepreneurial and want to be creative," Ewers said. "When you have small businesses, their lifeblood is getting these people in there and if we limit their opportunities, they're going to have a tough time making rent. They're going to shut their doors and go someplace else."
Ewers' veto came days after the ownership of local restaurant and nightclub Posh 27 announced that, because of the City Council's Jan. 2 decision, it would close down later in the month and reopen a few days later strictly as a nightclub named Club Blue.
The Jan. 2 City Council vote passed 4-1, with Councilman Daniel Owen in dissent. Four votes is also the threshold under city law to override a mayoral veto.
Councilman Kent Guinn said he planned to make a motion to override the veto during next Tuesday's meeting. He said he did not want to lose the other changes intended to keep businesses acting like nightclubs while enjoying the restaurant exemption to the law.
Among other things, those changes prohibited cover charges, limited the size of a dance floor and eliminated "ladies drink free" specials for a business to allow patrons younger than 21.
"I'm shocked," Guinn said of the veto. "I thought this was all resolved and here we go again .Ê.Ê. It's like a never ending deal on this ordinance."
Council President Mary Sue Rich said she could support the "dual use" concept of restaurant and pool hall by day and 21-and-older club at night, as long as the City Council again tightened the exemptions with a new ordinance. Ewers said he would like to see that, and that his only objection to the latest ordinance he vetoed was its prohibition of dual use.
"I am fine with everything else," he said.
In November, Ewers vetoed a 3-2 City Council vote that repealed the age restrictions law completely. In his veto letter, he said the ban helped curb police calls and was among an array of tools to combat underage drinking.Christopher Curry may be reached at (352) 867-4115 or chris.curry@starbanner.com.

OCALA - Ocala Mayor Randy Ewers has again vetoed a City Council decision involving the city ordinance barring customers under age 21 from clubs and lounges serving liquor.<BR>
Friday, Ewers vetoed a Jan. 2 decision that tightened some exemptions to the law but also prohibited "dual use" businesses that could allow customers under age 21 while operating businesses like pool halls or restaurants during certain hours before going 21 and older to become dance clubs at night. Instead, if a business ever met the city's definition of nightclub, it had to be 21 and older during all hours of operation.<BR>
"I just didn't think it was fair to businesses that were entrepreneurial and want to be creative," Ewers said. "When you have small businesses, their lifeblood is getting these people in there and if we limit their opportunities, they're going to have a tough time making rent. They're going to shut their doors and go someplace else."<BR>
Ewers' veto came days after the ownership of local restaurant and nightclub Posh 27 announced that, because of the City Council's Jan. 2 decision, it would close down later in the month and reopen a few days later strictly as a nightclub named Club Blue.<BR>
The Jan. 2 City Council vote passed 4-1, with Councilman Daniel Owen in dissent. Four votes is also the threshold under city law to override a mayoral veto.<BR>
Councilman Kent Guinn said he planned to make a motion to override the veto during next Tuesday's meeting. He said he did not want to lose the other changes intended to keep businesses acting like nightclubs while enjoying the restaurant exemption to the law.<BR>
Among other things, those changes prohibited cover charges, limited the size of a dance floor and eliminated "ladies drink free" specials for a business to allow patrons younger than 21.<BR>
"I'm shocked," Guinn said of the veto. "I thought this was all resolved and here we go again .Ê.Ê. It's like a never ending deal on this ordinance."<BR>
Council President Mary Sue Rich said she could support the "dual use" concept of restaurant and pool hall by day and 21-and-older club at night, as long as the City Council again tightened the exemptions with a new ordinance. Ewers said he would like to see that, and that his only objection to the latest ordinance he vetoed was its prohibition of dual use.<BR>
"I am fine with everything else," he said.<BR>
In November, Ewers vetoed a 3-2 City Council vote that repealed the age restrictions law completely. In his veto letter, he said the ban helped curb police calls and was among an array of tools to combat underage drinking.<BR>
<i>Christopher Curry may be reached at (352) 867-4115 or chris.curry@starbanner.com.</i>